I started this Blog to discover Kover pocket watches that still exist and documents that refer to the watchmaker Kover.
Please post a comment if you have a Kover watch or any relevant information. Alternatively send me details in an email (see my profile) and I will create a post.

I have now studied the testament of William Henderson in greater detail and give below a few extracts that I found of interest:

_______________________________________________________________

I previously published that William's Mother, Christian Marshall or Henderson, inherited everything after payment of all just and lawful debts. I now find that the testament includes "the sum of Forty pounds Sterling to my sister Jean Henderson being the wages to which she is entitled for her services to me for this last four years and which sum was allowed to remain in my hands for her behoof as also interest thereon at the rate of five percent from this date till the same be paid & which sum and interest I declare to be a Preferable debt."

According to on line inflation price calculators Jean Henderson's wages of 10 pounds Sterling per annum is equivalent to £1100 per annum in 2012. It is interesting to imagine why Jean allowed William to keep her wages "in his hands" when he appears to have had assets to the value of £373 (approximately equivalent to £41,000 today).

_______________________________________________________________

I previously stated that book debts due to the deceased totalled £63 19s 7d. The testament gives the following details; I have added notes as a result of my attempts to validate the names of debtors from other sources:

Book debts due to the deceased as under writ:

£

s

d

Notes

Charles
Alexander

“

7

6

Mr
Baxter

“

3

6

John
Bell London

“

5

“

Alexander
Boyd Cabinet Maker

“

“

8

Listed
in The Dundee Directory for 1850 as a cabinetmaker at Key’s Close,
Nethergate.

Mr Beatts
Tailor

“

3

6

Possibly
Beatt - David Beatt is listed in The Dundee Directory for 1850 as a tailor at
44 High Street.

George
Banks

“

“

7

R
Boyd Fife

“

“

6

Mr
Barrie?

“

1

6

May
be Bassie

Miss
Bell

“

2

6

Henry
Brown Bookseller

“

3

“

Listed
in The Dundee Directory for 1850 as bookseller and stationer at 45 High
Street. Also as The London Bible Warehouse.

E.F.Dickinson
& Co. was listed in The Dundee Directory for 1850 as a Clothier at 11
Union Street. Also listed as E.F.Dickenson.

Mr
Davidson Leith

7

2

6

David
Dick

“

8

6

Mrs
Donaldson Newport

“

1

4

Newport
is South of Dundee across the Tay

Mr
Easson Barrack Street

“

1

“

John
Easson & Son is listed in The Dundee Directory for 1850 as
cork-manufacturers at 28 Barrack Street. Alternatively, Alex. Easson is
listed as an Elder in the Old Scotch Independent Church in Barrack Street.

May
be Mr and may be Low - John Campbell Low is listed in The Dundee Directory
for 1850 as plumber at 14 Union Street. Also listed in the Post Office Dundee
Directory 1846-47 as Low, John C., plumber, 16 Union Street ; h. 14
do.

Mr
Lawson Murraygate

“

3

“

William
Lamb Alloa

1

8

6

J
& J Lesslie Tinsmiths

“

18

“

Listed
in The Dundee Directory for 1850 as tinplate-workers &c. at 86
Murraygate.

Mr
Lawson Murraygate

“

4

6

John
Mackison Stirling

“

7

“

John
Murdoch

“

2

“

John
Murdoch

“

2

6

Mrs
John Murdoch

“

7

“

Miss
Marshall

“

“

3

Marshall
was William Henderson’s Mother’s maiden name.

Mrs
McLeod

“

7

“

Mr
Mosley London

“

5

“

Mr
Morgan Draper Stirling

3

“

“

Miss
Moon

“

1

“

Mr
Millar Hatter

“

2

“

James
Millar is listed in The Dundee Directory for 1850 as a hatter at 2 Reform
Street. In the Post Office Dundee Directory 1846-47 listed as Millar, J.
& J., hatters at the same address.

Mr
Robert Martin

“

2

6

Robert
Marshall London

7

5

7

Marshall
was William Henderson’s Mother’s maiden name.

Dr
Osborne

5

1

1

Osborne,
George M., M.D. ; surgery, 142 Murraygate is listed in The Dundee Directory
for 1850.

Pattullo,
Jas., 20 Reform St. is listed in The Dundee Directory for 1850.

William
Paterson Fruiterer

4

7

6

Listed
in in The Dundee Directory for 1850 are Paterson, William, fruiterer and
gardener, 5 Seagate and Paterson, jun., fruiterer, 1 Union Street. There is
an interesting article about William Paterson, 1810-1870, Potato Breeder of
Dundee here: http://www.suttonelms.org.uk/pot70.html

Robert
Ramsay

“

“

6

Mrs?
Russell

“

5

“

Capt.
Thos. Robertson

4

17

6

Possible
listed in in The Dundee Directory for 1850 is Robertson, Thomas, shipmaster,
75 Seagate. Possible listed in The Dundee Directory for 1853-4 as Robertson,
Thos. Robertson, 172 Seagate, shipmaster.

George
Ritchie Tay & Tyne Shipping Coy

“

15

“

A
George Ritchie, shipmaster, 87 Blackscroft appears in the Post Office Dundee
Directory for 1846-7 and Ritchie is listed as Master of a Tay & Tyne Ship
Co. vessel in the Shipping List in that Directory. There is no reference to
George Ritchie, however, in The Dundee Directory for 1850.

Alexander
Rickard

“

9

6

Revd.
J Reston

“

8

“

The
Dundee Directory for 1850 lists Rev. James Reston of St James’s Church, a
United Presbyterian Church in Bell Street.

Mr
David Scott

“

5

4

William
Scott

“

“

9

William
Sandeman Courier Office

“

7

3

The
Dundee Directory for 1850 lists a George Sandeman at the Courier Office.

The
Dundee Directory for 1850 lists Steel, John of J. Steel and Sons and also
Steel, James, & Sons, engineers, Lilybank Foundry. There is some
information about Lilybank Foundry and J. Steel & Sons here http://www.dundee.ac.uk/archives/ms046.htm. It
appears that John was not very adept at the management of the business after
the death of his Father and Brother.

The
Dundee Directory for 1850 lists several dockgate-men but Mr Young is not
among them. Nor is he identifiable in the Post Office Dundee Directory for
1846-7.

There are three debts of a little over £7, equivalent to £770 today. The smallest recorded debts are for 3d, equivalent to approximately £1.40 today.
_______________________________________________________________

William states that "...I William Henderson Watchmaker in Dundee considering that it is every person's duty to settle their worldly affairs in such a manner as to prevent all manner of disputes after death do hereby nominate, constitute & appoint my mother Mrs Christian Marshall or Henderson of Stirling but presently residing with me in Dundee to be my sole Executor...".

_______________________________________________________________

William further states "...I desire to be buried in Stirling my native place...".

I have been searching for details of William's burial in Dundee; Unfortunately I have found little information on line regarding burials in Stirling but I shall persevere! If any reader has direct access to Stirling burial records I would be please to receive any relevant information. I am interested to know the cause of William's death at the age of 28.